Alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin has graced the cover of WSJ. Magazine’s 2026 Spring Women’s Fashion Issue, opening up about juggling high-stakes racing with high-fashion glamour during an intense Olympic buildup.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Shiffrin shared her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity, admitting she initially doubted it could fit into her packed schedule. “When WSJ came to me with this cover opportunity, I wasn’t really sure how we’d be able to make it happen…the Olympic season was about to kick off and it was already a busy time,” she wrote. “It was the women’s fashion issue, though. Of course I couldn’t say no.”
The photoshoot took place in Austria’s stunning Ötztal Valley shortly after the World Cup opener in Sölden, with the team pulling off a seamless production despite the tight timeline. Shiffrin praised stylist Edward Bowleg as “one of the best and most creative stylists I’ve ever worked with,” and gave a playful shoutout to a local farmer who brought goats for the shoot—”which I honestly thought were sheep 😅…they were so cute.”
The feature, written by WSJ columnist Jason Gay, includes insights from Shiffrin’s inner circle—her brother, fiancé, physio—and icons she admires, like Roger Federer and Simone Biles. Shiffrin reflected candidly on her three Olympic experiences, describing them as “wildly different” and all valuable for personal growth.
“From a personal perspective, nothing’s ever been negative,” she said in the piece. “From a public perspective, it’s different. You’d love to grow and have the whole world be proud of you. But often, your biggest growth moments are when the world is actually kind of tearing you down. And that can be hard to sort of reconcile.”
The GOAT of alpine skiing—boasting an unmatched record of World Cup wins across disciplines—kept it real about her Olympic ambitions: “As for medals at the Olympics—I’m the first to admit that I’m not a sure thing.”
Shiffrin expressed deep appreciation for her support network: “To all of the people in my corner (and there are so many of you): thank you for all of your support in this journey. I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without you. ❤️”
She also credited the full creative team, including photographer Bea De Giacomo, hair stylist Alessia MP, makeup artist Katja Wil, and others.
The cover highlights Shiffrin’s blend of athletic dominance, vulnerability, and style—proving once again why she’s not just conquering slopes, but captivating the world off them too.
